St. John Community Foundation executive director Celia Kalousek was hoping the group’s annual meeting on Thursday, April 18, at the Bethany Moravian Church Hall would draw a crowd, but even she was impressed with this year’s attendance.
“We had more than 45 different organizations represented and more than 75 people at this incredibly productive dinner meeting,” said Kalousek.
As soon as the meeting got underway, Kalousek made certain the group understood the importance of the evening.
“It is one thing to say you care about what is happening on this island, and another thing to show up and do something about it,” Kalousek told the group. “You are the people who are doing things. Each one of you is here because you care about improving the health and well-being of the St. John community now and for future generations.”
The crowd broke up into small working groups focused on Youth Development, Health and Human Services, Environment and Animal Welfare and Community Enrichment.
Although working on different agendas, the general goal of the meeting was to establish a community-wide action plan for securing and allocating resources of talent and funding to fulfill specific needs, Kalousek explained.
“The purpose of tonight’s meeting is to start the compilation of a comprehensive list of who is doing what so we can find gaps in services, avoid duplication of efforts, combine and direct talents to fill existing needs in St. John, combine and direct funding to accomplish fulfillment of those needs,” the SJCF executive director said. “Tonight is the start of creating the big picture.”
Kalousek made sure that attendees understood that she was open to all suggestions and ideas.
“No idea is too big and no need is too small,” she told the group. “Just put it out there!”
Each work group was given color-coded Post-it notes to write down specific projects along with estimated costs.
After discussion, group members posted the notes on a collaborative “Impact Board” under one of three time-frames: immediate (within a year); short –term (one to three years); and long-term (more than three years).
Kalousek encouraged group members to not be shy, she added.
“I encouraged everyone to share their skills, resources and knowledge for bottom line impact for St. John,” she said. “I asked people, ‘Do you know where one of your work group members can get that piece of equipment they need, and do you know the perfect person to fulfill the volunteer needs brought up at the table?’”
“Several of the needs were filled immediately,” Kalousek said.
St. John School of the Arts officials, for example, posted a need for a tripod for their camera and a projector, Kalousek explained.
“I remembered that I have one in storage that I haven’t used in years and am giving it to them,” said the SJCF executive director. “There may be several more instances where someone reads the list and realizes they can ‘re-source’ an item by donating it to an organization that needs it. I’ve always loved the saying, ‘One man’s junk is another man’s gold.’”
“I look forward to being able to post and maintain an ongoing list of specific items needed in the community and being able to facilitate exchanges,” said Kalousek.
The groups were able to identify a wide range of priorities from researching a community health insurance plan to recruiting volunteers for the October 14 Just Play Day, Kalousek explained.
“There was almost unanimous agreement on the need for extracurricular activities for youth as well as recreational, educational and vocational facilities on St. John,” she said.
The list of priorities created by SJCF’s Impact Group will be shared with senators and other attendees at this Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting at the Cruz Bay Legislature annex building and will also be available on line, explained Kalousek.
“These priorities will also be listed on the SJCF website, www.sjcf.org, in a format that will allow for further input and potential collaboration,” she said.
SJCF also wants to keep the momentum from residents ready to make a difference going, Kalousek added.
“We are in the process of organizing a follow up to this successful event and look forward to expanding the circle,” she said.
For more information about SJCF, the Impact Group meeting and how to get involved, call Kalousek at 693-9410.
